Joyce Manor - Songs From Northern Torrance (Opaque Yellow Vinyl)

Opaque Yellow LP. Spinning the raw emotions and unfettered delivery of power pop and emo, California outfitJOYCE MANORemerged inthe late 2000s with a blistering punk sound on their eponymous debut (2011) and follow-upOf All Things I Will Soon GrowTired (2012). Developing restraint and slowing things down, they took cues from pop-punk and indie rock on their Epitaphlabel debutNever Hungover Again, which drew upon influences Weezer and Jawbreaker, a maturation that continued on2016's Cody and 2018'sMillion Dollars to Kill Me. Based out of Torrance, California, JOYCE MANORgot it's start in late 2008, conceived as the acoustic pop-punk duo of Barry Johnson (vocals, guitar) and Chase Knobbe (guitar). That idea didn't lastlong, however, and the band ultimately expanded, with friends coming and going until the lineup settled down a year later. JOYCE MANORreturn withSongs From Northern Torrance: a collection of b-sides and alternate versions of fan favoritespulled from the band's personal archives. The album kicks off with "House Warning Party, " a one-minute blast of lo-fi good-ness that offers a glimpse into the band's humble beginnings as a two-piece folk-punk outfit. Lyrics of suburban angst forgewith upbeat drums and swift, jangly guitars that make it impossible to not bounce your head along to. As a band who havecome to define West Coast indie-punk, JOYCE MANORremains one of the most popular bands in the genre and this trackis a rarity their fans will surely love.